Casino Royale (with Interview)

For James Bond and the British Secret Service, the stakes couldn't be higher. 007's mission is to neutralise the Russian operative Le Chiffre by ruining him at the baccarat table, forcing his Soviet masters to 'retire' him. When Le Chiffre hits a losing streak, Bond discovers his luck is in - that is, until he meets Vesper Lynd, a glamorous agent who might yet prove to be his downfall.

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Here in a single volume is the entire, unabridged recording of Gibbon's masterpiece. Beginning in the second century A.D. at the apex of the Pax Romana, Gibbon traces the arc of decline and complete destruction through the centuries across Europe and the Mediterranean. It is a thrilling and cautionary tale of splendor and ruin, of faith and hubris, and of civilization and barbarism. Follow along as Christianity overcomes paganism... before itself coming under intense pressure from Islam.

Slaughterhouse-Five

Traumatized by the bombing of Dresden at the time he had been imprisoned, Pilgrim drifts through all events and history, sometimes deeply implicated, sometimes a witness. He is surrounded by Vonnegut's usual large cast of continuing characters (notably here the hack science fiction writer Kilgore Trout and the alien Tralfamadorians, who oversee his life and remind him constantly that there is no causation, no order, no motive to existence).

A History of Britain: Volume 1

The story of Britain from the earliest settlements in 3000BC to the death of Elizabeth I in 1603. To look back at the past is to understand the present. In this vivid account of over 4,000 years of British history, Simon Schama takes us on an epic journey which encompasses the very beginnings of the nation's identity, when the first settlers landed on Orkney. From the successes and failures of the monarchy to the daily life of a Roman soldier stationed on Hadrian's Wall, Schama gives a vivid, fascinating account of the many different stories and struggles that lie behind the growth of our island nation.

Made in America

In Made in America, Bryson de-mythologizes his native land, explaining how a dusty hamlet with neither woods nor holly became Hollywood, how the Wild West wasn't won, why Americans say 'lootenant' and 'Toosday', how Americans were eating junk food long before the word itself was cooked up, as well as exposing the true origins of the G-string, the original $64,000 question, and Dr Kellogg of cornflakes fame.

King John: Treachery, Tyranny and the Road to Magna Carta

The brilliantly compelling new biography of the treacherous and tyrannical King John, published to coincide with the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta. Authoritative and dramatic, Marc Morris' King John offers a compelling portrait of an extraordinary king whose reign marked a momentous turning point in the history of Britain and Europe. King John is buried in Worcester Cathedral.

Frankenstein

Narrator Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey) presents an uncanny performance of Mary Shelley's timeless gothic novel, an epic battle between man and monster at its greatest literary pitch. In trying to create life, the young student Victor Frankenstein unleashes forces beyond his control, setting into motion a long and tragic chain of events that brings Victor to the very brink of madness. How he tries to destroy his creation, as it destroys everything Victor loves, is a powerful story of love, friendship, scientific hubris, and horror.

Call for the Dead

This novel, set in London in the late 1950s, finds George Smiley engaged in the humdrum job of security vetting. But when a Foreign Office civil servant commits suicide after an apparently unproblematic interview, Smiley is baffled. Refusing to believe that Fennan shot himself soon after making a cup of cocoa and asking the exchange to telephone him in the morning, Smiley decides to investigate - only to uncover a murderous conspiracy.

Paradise Lost

In words remarkable for their richness of rhythm and imagery, Milton tells the story of man's creation, fall, and redemption, "to justify the ways of God to men". Here, unabridged, and told with exceptional sensitivity and power by Anton Lesser, is the plight of Adam and Eve, the ambition and vengefulness of Satan and his cohorts.

The Strings of Murder

Penguin presents the unabridged,downloadable audiobook edition of The Strings of Murder by Oscar de Muriel, read by Andy Secombe, including musical interludes recorded by the author himself. Edinburgh, 1888. A virtuoso violinist is brutally killed in his home. But with no way in or out of the locked practice room, the murder makes no sense. Fearing a national panic over a copycat Ripper, Scotland Yard sends Inspector Ian Frey to investigate under the cover of a fake department specializing in the occult.

The Brain: The Story of You

This is the story of how your life shapes your brain and how your brain shapes your life. Locked in the silence and darkness of your skull, the brain fashions the rich narratives of your reality and your identity. Join renowned neuroscientist David Eagleman for a journey into the questions at the heart of our existence. What is reality? Who are 'you'? How do you make decisions? Why does your brain need other people? How is technology poised to change what it means to be human?

Fahrenheit 451

Guy Montag is a fireman. In his world, where television rules and literature is on the brink of extinction, firemen start fires rather than put them out. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden. Montag never questions the destruction and ruin his actions produce, returning each day to his bland life and wife, Mildred, who spends all day with her television "family."

D DAY Through German Eyes: The Hidden Story of June 6th 1944

Almost all accounts of D-Day are told from the Allied perspective, with the emphasis on how German resistance was overcome on June 6, 1944. But what was it like to be a German soldier in the bunkers and gun emplacements of the Normandy coast, facing the onslaught of the mightiest seaborne invasion in history? What motivated the German defenders, what were their thought processes - and how did they fight from one strong point to another, among the dunes and fields, on that first cataclysmic day?

The Color Purple

As a young black woman living in 1930s Georgia, Celie faces constant violence and oppression. Raped repeatedly by her father, she loses two children and then is married off to a man who treats her like a slave. But a deep bond with her husband's mistress teaches her she is a woman capable of being loved and respected. Gradually, Celie begins to leave the past behind and start a new life.

Cognitive Psychology for Dummies

Demystify the core concepts of cognitive psychology. Written specifically for psychology students - and not other academics - Cognitive Psychology for Dummies is an accessible and entertaining introduction to the field. Unlike the dense and jargon-laden content found in most psychology textbooks, this practical guide provides listeners with easy-to-understand explanations of the fundamental elements of cognitive psychology so that they are able obtain a firm grasp of the material.

Brighton Rock

An unabridged audio edition of Graham Greene's classic gang-war thriller. A gang war is raging through the dark underworld of Brighton. Pinkie, malign and ruthless, has killed a man. Believing he can escape retribution, he is unprepared for the courageous, life-embracing Ida Arnold, who is determined to avenge a death.... Read by Samuel West.

Orphan X

Do you need my help? It was always the first question he asked. They called him when they had nowhere else to turn. Raised and trained as part of a top-secret programme, he was sent to the worst places in the world to do things his government denied any knowledge of. Then he broke with the programme and disappeared. But now someone's on his tail. Someone who knows he was once known simply as Orphan X.

Somme: Into the Breach

No conflict better encapsulates all that went wrong on the Western Front than the Battle of the Somme in 1916. The tragic loss of life and stoic endurance by troops who walked towards their death is an iconic image which will be hard to ignore during the centennial year. Despite this, this book shows the extent to which the Allied armies were in fact able repeatedly to break through the German front lines.

Knots and Crosses

'And in Edinburgh of all places. I mean, you never think of that sort of thing happening in Edinburgh, do you...?' 'That sort of thing' is the brutal abduction and murder of two young girls. And now a third is missing, presumably gone to the same sad end. Detective Sergeant John Rebus, smoking and drinking too much, his own young daughter spirited away south by his disenchanted wife, is one of many policemen hunting the killer.

Young Bloods: Wellington and Napoleon, Book 1

Arthur Wesley (the future Duke of Wellington) was born and bred to be a leader. With a firm belief that the nation must be led by a king, the red-coated British officer heads for battle against the French Republic, to restore the fallen monarchy. Napoleon Bonaparte joins the French military on the eve of the Revolution. He believes leadership is won by merit, not by noble birth. When anarchy explodes in Paris, he's thrust into the revolutionary army poised to march against Britain.

Jaws

Jaws is the classic, blockbuster thriller that inspired the three-time Academy Award-winning Steven Spielberg movie and made millions of beachgoers afraid to go into the water. Experience the thrill of helpless horror again - or for the first time! Jaws was #48 in the American Film Institute's 100 Years...100 Movies, and the film earned the coveted #1 spot on the Bravo network's 100 Scariest Movie Moments countdown.

Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945

Almost a decade in the making, this much-anticipated grand history of postwar Europe from one of the world's most esteemed historians and intellectuals is a singular achievement. Postwar is the first modern history that covers all of Europe, both east and west, drawing on research in six languages to sweep readers through 34 nations and 60 years of political and cultural change-all in one integrated, enthralling narrative.

Kill Someone

Here are the rules. Method: you can't use a gun. You can't use explosives. You can't use poison. It has to be up close and personal. You don't have to worry about leaving evidence; that will be taken care of. Victim: no one suicidal. No one over the age of 65. No one with a terminal illness. Choose your method. Choose your victim.

The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England: A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century

Imagine you could travel back to the 14th century. What would you see? What would you smell? More to the point, where are you going to stay? And what are you going to eat? Ian Mortimer shows us that the past is not just something to be studied; it is also something to be lived. He sets out to explain what life was like in the most immediate way, through taking you to the Middle Ages. The result is the most astonishing social history book you are ever likely to read: evolutionary in its concept, informative and entertaining in its detail.

If you could sum up Treasure Island in three words, what would they be?

Adventure, Treasure and Pirates! (What's not to love about that?)

What did you like best about this story?

I tried out this book some years ago when I was at school and I did not get very far with it, but over the years I think I have developed a love for adventure books. <br/>I just couldn't get enough Treasure Island. I loved hearing the story through Jim's head and thoughts and the characters were so full of life (well, if they weren't dead). <br/>I felt like I was there, shooting at pirates or running through the undergrowth on a desert island. I especially loved Jim's view of things he had never seen before. Seals for example, were giant snail like monsters who barked. <br/>Brilliant.

What about David Buck’s performance did you like?

His characters. <br/>He went from old Jim, to young Jim, to Long John Silver, to Square Trelawney with a seamless ease and never a stumble.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

If I hadn't been working while listening to this I think I would have been biting my nails.

Any additional comments?

The ending! <br/>Those last few words had such a haunting, echoey feel to them...Marvellous!!<br/>I think I will be going hunting for some more books along the same line as this one over the next few week. :)

The narration of this book was fantastic. Each of the characters were brought to life with their personalities accentuated brilliantly. I've now read Treasure Island twice and listened to it once, and could easily listen to this version again.

This is one of the best tales ever told. It's no wonder just about every pirate film ever made totally rips it off. This is the authentic original.

It tells of a voyage at sea without falling into the trap that many stories of this type fall into; namely digressing into lengthy technical discussions about sailing.

There is as much in this story of time on land in England and in the West Indies. It gives a sense of frontier life.

Of course, the main delight of this story and the most famous is Long John Silver. Now I know why the character is so famous. He's both loveable and revolting at the same time. He's a slithering snake of a man and the narrator portrays him perfectly. He portrays every character perfectly for that matter.

This is a beautifully read classical pirate's tale. Dating back to the Victorian days there's plenty of chivalrous heroes and scoundrel pirates; I love the fact that they raise the British Flag even though it gives away their position! I listened to this during my daily commute and I had listened carefully to keep track of the story. Enjoyed it thoroughly!

Some books are considered classics because the story is unique and compelling. Others are praised because of the superlative writing style of the author. A handful of books have both qualities. Treasure Island is one.

This is the quintissential pirate book. Peg legs. A talking parrot perched atop a pirate's shoulder. Swashbuckling adventure on deck and atop the jib. And of course, Long John Silver. It's all here.

This is an astonishing book made even moreso when you consider Stevenson was just 31 years old when he wrote it. Subtle humor, action, sea adventure, double-crosses. And gorgeous prose.

And this particular audio version showcases an outstanding narrator. His various character voices were so distinct that at times I supposed I was listening to a dramatic retelling using various actors.

Buy it. Download it. Relish it.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Christopher

Kew Gardens, NY, United States

05/05/11

Overall

"The one to get"

I sampled a wide variety of readings before settling on this one, and I couldn't have been happier. David Buck's narration is superb. This is the one to get!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

4Thes

Robbinsville, NJ, United States

17/08/10

Overall

"Well read version"

This version was great. Best read fiction story I've ever heard. More like a radio play than a simple reading. Got to know the entire host of characters just from the voice, and found the story easier to follow with the narrator reading than when I read it on paper.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Mark

canyon country, CA, United States

16/04/12

Overall

Performance

Story

"A swashbuckling tail of epic proportions"

What did you like best about this story?

All of it. Outstanding!

Which scene was your favorite?

"Aye Jim Boy. Keep a weather eye out for a seafaring man with one leg. You will do that for me won’t you Jim Boy"

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

Any additional comments?

A must read

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

David

Normal, IL, United States

05/02/11

Overall

"Must read classic"

As a classic, there is no doubt one should consider reading this book. I love finding out where terms and/or characters originate from and this book includes several. Ever been to Long John Silver's? Just happens to be the antagonist who played the role of the ship's cook.

The question is whether or not this is the version to download. I agree with other reviews - the narrator did a fantastic job - so go ahead and purchase with confidence.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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